Press Review

“Raffi Hovannisian certainly suffered a defeat on April 9, failing to lead thousands of [protesting] citizens,” writes “168 Zham.” “But that was also a defeat for the society. Or at least a section of the society that is unhappy with the government, does not accept this government and its policies and viewed Raffi Hovannisian as a chance to change this reality. That section of the society will become even more cynical about the possibilities of changing something.”

“The worst possible result of post-election developments is disappointment,” writes “Aravot.” “That word has been uttered too often after April 9.” The paper believes that opposition supporters should not have been very enthusiastic about Hovannisian’s movement in the first place.

“Armenia’s authorities are probably not as attentive to the state borders as the domestic administrative-command boundaries drawn by them,” writes “Zhamanak.” “And while the state borders are placed under Russian protection they will not entrust anybody with the administrative boundaries.”

“Those who were in central Yerevan on April 9 were struck by how many police officers there are in our country,” says “Hraparak.” “Apparently regional police forces were also brought to the capital. But does a country with numerous socioeconomic problems that cannot pay its pensioners decent pensions has the right to such luxury? … And if we add to them the burden of the National Security Service, the Prosecutor-General’s Office, the tax and customs services and other security and quasi-security bodies we will see that we, the taxpayers, are sustaining a huge number of parasites that do not create anything. They are fed by us and, if need be, attack, arrest and humiliate us.”

“Hayots Ashkhar” says President Serzh Sarkisian clearly defined the challenges facing Armenia and his top priorities for the next five years in his inauguration speech. The pro-presidential paper says one should therefore anticipate “serious changes” in the government. It says Armenia needs “cadres with a new and fresh mentality.” “And if these accurate and objective evaluations [by Sarkisian] are followed by an ability to carry out structural reforms and the appointment of cadres with a potential and capacity to overcome the existing situation, that will create favorable conditions for the consolidation of the Armenian society,” it says.